The Health & Safety Office is providing several updates to current and new programs that we’re sure you’ll find beneficial and easy to use.
WORKING ALONE
• New program designed to ensure the safety and well-being of employees working alone in any settings within the many various operations of Trent University, including administrative, academic, and research.
• Program consists of:
o Working Alone Safety Guidelines outlines a process for managers to manage working alone through risk assessment and safety planning.
o Working Alone Risk Assessment to identify any hazards involved and which safety protocols should be in place.
o Working Alone Safety Plan template to document safe work practices and check-in practices for lone workers.
Why is this important?
• Working alone was identified as a risk by many departments when conducting Workplace Violence Risk Assessments in 2024.
• No formalized process previously, easy to access and understand, integrates with TrentU Campus Safety app Working Alone function.
ERGONOMICS PROGRAM
• New program focused on proactive prevention and ergonomic best practices, rather than reactive measures after an injury has already occurred.
• Includes new training modules for employees who want to learn more about musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention.
Why is this important?
• Encourages workers to report workplace discomfort or pain and request an ergonomic assessment from H&S, supervisors to support ergonomic best practices to reduce workplace MSD injury rates.
• Sprains and strains were the leading type of claim made to the WSIB in 2024, accounting for 26% of all claims, and with an average of 7 days of lost time per claim.
H&S TRAINING AND COMPETENCY PROGRAM (updates to existing practices)
• OPSEU and Exempt job descriptions will outline competency and/or licensing requirements for positions within Trent University.
• Certification required for jobs can be uploaded to employee profile in VIP.
• Strongly encourage supervisors to document all safety related training and save records in VIP.
• Review training needs, competency, and licensing requirements during annual performance evaluations.
• Mandatory H&S training refreshers to be completed every 5 years.
Why is this important?
• H&S training and competency are cornerstones of the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA).
• Training ensures that workers have the proper information and instruction to perform duties safely and avoid hazards and injuries.
• Supervisors must be a “competent person” for the work they supervise, through knowledge / training / experience, familiarity with the OHSA and its applicable regulations, and knowledge of potential or actual hazards in the workplace.
INJURY, ILLNESS, AND INCIDENT REPORTING PROGRAM
• New online reporting tools have been developed that are much easier to use than the previous process (Employee Incident Report - Health and Safety - Trent University).
• Encouraging the reporting of hazards and near-misses, student incidents, as well as visitors / contractors / volunteers.
Why is this important?
• The better injury and incident reporting generated, the better we can identify trends and take action to prevent similar injuries or incidents.
More information and resources can be found on the H&S website. Alternatively, we would love to be invited to your team meetings to talk about these programs and any other H&S questions you may have. Please email healthandsafety@trentu.ca to arrange.